Miserable and Itchy. Please Help us.

[Lisa and Pic]

I also recommend a vet dermatologist. Heck, when Piccolo was having skin problems a few years ago, I did not even know there was such a thing as a dermatologist specialist for animals. Smartest move I ever made, once I figured it out.

The first visit is pricey with all the tests, but you will get answers. And after the first visit, things are reasonable. We spent so much money going to the regular vet for months, when Piccolo had a problem, that it probably would have been less expensive to go to the dermatologist right away.

Sorry your pup has been miserable for so long and glad to hear you want to get this resolved. Good luck and hope all turns out well for Mickie. Please let us know.

[mugwee1]

So sorry you and Mickie are going through this, Hope you find a solution soon. He must be very miserable.I know the fleas and knats are bad in Pa. this year.Knats have my leggs all bit up. We have the black wood fleas this year every time I take them out they come in with some on them, Don't know how to get rid of them. We even had our yard treated for fleas. I just keep bathing and treating for them. Hope you have better news to report on Mickie.
Anne/Luci

[kjc]

Originally Posted by cheddy007

My vet also gave Mickie Steroid shots a couple of times, which didn't help. She put him on an allergy medication, which didn't work. I've also tried OTC stuff like Benadryl, but that also didn't help.

I have to put a shirt on him when I'm at work so he won't scratch all day long, but sometimes he'll just find another spot that isn't covered to gnaw at. He's starting to look more like a Chihuahua, and less like a Yorkie the more hair he rips out.

I have him on a Lamb and fish diet because I read that Yorkies could be allergic to Chicken. The vet said that he could be allergic to fleas, but I haven't found a flea on him for months now, and he's still miserable. I still try brewer's yeast, fish oil, oatmeal baths... you name it, I've tried it. Money wasted.

Yes, I have it anal glands expressed regularly, so that's not it. I'll just have to get an allergy test, but the reason I posted this was to see if there is anything out there it could be besides allergies. Could it be some sort of disease or other insect infection that the naked eye can't see? The reason I ask is, he 7 and has never scratched or lost hair. Now, every time I brush him, clumps of hair fall out. The doctor wasn't any help, so I thought I'd let you guys chime in. I have my suspicions about doctors just wanting me to come back over and over again to get my money, and really don't care, or try to help my poor baby.

I know that's wrong to say, but I'm at a loss.

Is he on Heartworm preventative? Have you tried Revolution? My little guy had mites, all his hair broke off within about 3 days he was scratching so badly. He couldn't sleep for waking up to scratch. One dose of Revolution stopped the itching. Nothing showed on skin scrapings either.

[MY OSCAR]

Originally Posted by kjc

Is he on Heartworm preventative? Have you tried Revolution? My little guy had mites, all his hair broke off within about 3 days he was scratching so badly. He couldn't sleep for waking up to scratch. One dose of Revolution stopped the itching. Nothing showed on skin scrapings either.

GREAT IDEA , IT'S WORTH A TRY ...

[kjc]

Originally Posted by MY OSCAR

GREAT IDEA , IT'S WORTH A TRY ...

Actually it was my vet's suggestion. She said unless you take a skin scraping at the exact spot where a mite happens to be, it's very easy to miss them. She said it's cheaper to just go ahead and try Revolution, if it works, then you know it's mites or a noseeum. One has to protect against heartworms once a month anyway, so why not?

[chachi]

Revolution wont kill a bad case of mites alone. My vet put Chachi on it when he had mites but he also had to have dips like 5 of them. His were prett
y bad though all the hair on his back was gone from it

[Micah my love]

So sorry your baby is so miserable, mine were all itching/scratching really bad and one had some hair loss, I switched their food to Fromm's now there is no more itching and Laci hair is back..we have tried several different ones from Fromm's but they really like the (salmon/veggies) a lot

[Marlee12107]

I have had this problen before. Vet took my dog off food with corn or corn products........Bought Nutro Natural choice lamb & rice ...little bites.....Also bath in Baby shampoooo...only thing that she doesn't itch with. Then I buy. Vet's Best.........Hot Spot Spray...............all natural not greasy. I get it online from KVvet. This has worked wonders......Hair coming back..no more itching.....Can't hurt to try......Hope your baby gets help soon.Poor thuing........

[gracielove]

For now I would get him on a limited ingredient grain free food that uses only grass fed animals with not antibiotics, steroids, or hormones injected into the animals.
It's only a guess but the way you describe the skin it could be some form of fungus you are dealing with. He needs a specialist to pinpoint his problem. Most itching is caused by food allergy if it is not from an external source like fleas, etc.
Most meats on the open market are injected with hormones, antibiotics and steroids through out their lifetime and these things stay in the meat that we are eating. Yuck. Many animals react to these meats but they can also react to certain grains or both. A limited ingredient food would be a starting point until you can get him to a specialist. Many homeopathic vets are good at pinpointing these issues.

[vhenke]

I have work with dogs at kennels , grew up on a farm too , we would give small amount of bendlry for skin or food allergy, I mean just a little .

[gracielove]

Originally Posted by vhenke

I have work with dogs at kennels , grew up on a farm too , we would give small amount of bendlry for skin or food allergy, I mean just a little .

Benadryl can be used in some cases but should only be used short term until the source of the problem is found.